Local Couple Details Cruise Ordeal As Health Crisis Escalated

Posted by: The Dispatch
OCEAN CITY –  A local couple caught on a cruise ship as coronavirus turned into a global pandemic is finally home.After weeks of uncertainty as their cruise ship was turned away from port ......

Comptroller Calls For ’90-Day Payment Holiday From Monthly Bills’

Posted by: The Dispatch
Peter FranchotSpecial To The DispatchAs our state, nation and the world battle the COVID-19 pandemic, there is much fear and uncertainty of what the future holds. We must first and foremost protect pu......

Cops & Courts – April 3, 2020

Posted by: The Dispatch
Pair Arrested For Domestic AssaultOCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania couple was arrested last month after allegedly scrapping with each other in a vehicle and causing a disturbance on a downtown side ......

Berlin Church Eyes Community Service In Trying Time

Posted by: The Dispatch
BERLIN – A local church is looking to encourage the community with lighting and music.Every day during the pandemic shutdown, Stevenson United Methodist Church will ring bells and illuminate it......

Voices From The Readers – April 3, 2020

Posted by: The Dispatch
Cure Worse Than DiseaseEditor:Part I: March 30 was my 71st birthday. My wife and I watched a 211 TV movie called Contagion. The events are eerily similar to what is happening today. It stars Matt Dam......

Heavy Metal Playground Proposed For West OC

Posted by: The Dispatch
WEST OCEAN CITY –   A business that gives people the chance to play with construction equipment could soon be coming to West Ocean City.Heavy Metal Playground, a Boonsboro establishmen......

Scam Attempts Running High Amid Pandemic

Posted by: The Dispatch
OCEAN CITY — With every crisis comes an in-kind number of scammers attempting to prey on the fear and anxiety of others and the current coronavirus pandemic has been no different.In recent weeks......

What’s Your Sign? April 3, 2020

Posted by: The Dispatch
ARIES (March 21 to April 19): You might be upset about having to deal with problems that are no fault of your own. But you can turn the annoyance into an asset by showing how quickly and how well you......

OC Restricts Lodging, Extends Beach, Boardwalk Closures

Posted by: The Dispatch
OCEAN CITY — Resort and county officials this week took further steps to limit out-of-town guests and emphasize the “stay at home” message including extending the beach and Boardwalk......

Thoughts From The Publisher’s Desk – April 3, 2020

Posted by: The Dispatch
It’s human nature to wonder when the current pandemic will run its course. It’s just too early to tell, but it’s natural for dates to be considered. In our area, the seasonal econom......

Wicomico Braces For Tax Revenue Impact On Budget

Posted by: The Dispatch
SALISBURY – A discussion on the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and various state mandates highlighted a public hearing on the fiscal year 2021 budget last week.Using a video conferen......

The Adventures Of Fatherhood – April 3, 2020

Posted by: The Dispatch
Some stories from week two of quarantine, or is it week three? No matter, the days are all running together. Here are some thoughts on our experiences and fortunately today they have nothing to do wit......

Alert Issued Over Fraudulent GoFundMe Pages

Posted by: The Dispatch
BERLIN – Town officials warned residents about several fraudulent GoFundMe pages claiming to support Berlin businesses this week.Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development d......

Things I Like – April 3, 2020

Posted by: The Dispatch
Notable sacrifices people are makingSeeing my son Zoom with his teachersGovernments livestreaming their meetingsCommiserating with business owners these daysBinge watching old Cheers episodesEmbracing......

A Week In Business – April 3, 2020

Posted by: The Dispatch
Cares Head NamedREHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — Lauren Herlihy has been named president of SoDel Cares, the charitable arm of SoDel Concepts, a hospitality group with 12 restaurants in Sussex County, Del......

Fenwick Adjusts Policies, Operations During Pandemic

Posted by: The Dispatch
FENWICK ISLAND – While it’s more or less business as usual for the town of Fenwick Island, officials are taking measures to protect their employees with a new workforce policy.Last Friday,......

Obituaries – April 3, 2020

Posted by: The Dispatch
Ryan Lee WilsonOCEAN PINES — Ryan Lee Wilson, 38, of Ocean Pines, died on March 24, 2020 at his home.Born in Lancaster, Pa., he was the son of Dianne Desmond of Ocean Pines and the late William ......

Teachers, Students Adapting To Distance Learning

Posted by: The Dispatch
NEWARK –   Classes resumed for many Worcester County Public Schools students this week as teachers began using technology to provide online instruction in the midst of the COVID-19 pa......

Governor Issues Stay-At-Home Order To Stop Virus Spread

Posted by: The Dispatch
OCEAN CITY — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued a stay-at-home directive for state citizens effective this week, vowing stronger enforcement for those who continue to ignore prescribed social dist......

Vanishing Ocean City With Bunk Mann – April 3, 2020

Posted by: The Dispatch
Ocean City’s beach and Boardwalk had a different appearance in the years prior to World War II. This photo looks north from Talbot Street. The Boardwalk in those days was narrow and raised abou......

Wetlands Created To Mitigate Airport Runway Work

Posted by: The Dispatch
WEST OCEAN CITY — As part of a mitigation for disturbing sensitive areas during a runway improvement project at the Ocean City Municipal Airport, the town is creating an expansive wetlands area ......

Find Silver Linings During Uncertain Time

Posted by: The Dispatch
In this unprecedented time of anxiety and uncertainty, it’s incumbent upon us to seek out the good things in life. With a somber future ahead for now, it’s these silver linings in our dai......

A Look at Local Sports this Week in Years Past

Posted by: The Dispatch
With spring high school sports seasons on indefinite hiatus, The Dispatch thought it might be interesting and fun to take a look back at what was making local sports headlines this same week in years......

Ultimatum Possible In WOC Emergency Services Dispute

Posted by: The Dispatch
OCEAN CITY — Frustration with the growing financial strain of providing emergency services to West Ocean City at Ocean City taxpayers’ expense boiled to the surface again during a Thursday......

DNR Clarifies State Order Forbids Recreational Boating

Posted by: The Dispatch
OCEAN CITY — With the arrival of April and a typical increase in recreational boating and fishing season around the area, state officials this week clarified just what is allowed and what is no......

Photographer Offers Services For Front Steps Project

Posted by: The Dispatch
OCEAN PINES – A nationwide initiative to celebrate family during an uncertain time has been embraced by a local photographer.Kim DeBoy of Indigomagik Photography is taking part in #TheFrontStep......

Developer Seeks Liquor License For New Hotel; Some Fenwick Residents Voice Opposition

Posted by: The Dispatch
FENWICK ISLAND – A local developer is seeking a liquor license for his new hotel, but some Fenwick residents are voicing their opposition to his requests.On March 2, developer Spiro Buas applie......

UPDATE: Ocean City Tourism Director Passes

Posted by: The Dispatch
OCEAN CITY — The resort community this week lost a treasured friend and icon this week with the passing of Ocean City Tourism Director Donna Abbott.Abbott succumbed on Wednesday after a ferocio......

Berlin To Livestream Council Meetings, Budget Sessions

Posted by: The Dispatch
BERLIN – As efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 continue, the Town of Berlin will begin livestreaming council meetings.Mayor Gee Williams announced Monday that the town council would hold it......

Next Month’s Springfest Canceled In Ocean City

Posted by: The Dispatch
OCEAN CITY – Next month’s Springfest was the latest shoe to drop after resort officials voted Wednesday morning to cancel the event due to uncertainties with the pandemic.During Wednesday......

OC Presents Budget Options Complicated By Virus Impact

Posted by: The Dispatch
OCEAN CITY — Despite concerns about the current pandemic, the first iteration of the town of Ocean City’s proposed fiscal year 2021 budget actually includes what would amount to a propert......

Hardwire Steps Up To Produce Protective Face Shields For Hospital Staff

Posted by: The Dispatch
BERLIN –  In an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, Hardwire LLC is now manufacturing face shields for medical personnel.The Pocomoke-based Hardwire is now producing protective face s......

Worcester School System Tweaks Calendar, Seeks Waiver To End June 11

Posted by: The Dispatch
NEWARK –   Local education officials agreed this week to modify the school calendar as facilities remain closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.The Worcester County Board of Educ......

State Police Outlines Home Order Enforcement Approach

Posted by: The Dispatch
OCEAN CITY — While state officials continue to assert education and outreach are still the preferred method of enforcing Governor Larry Hogan’s latest stay-at-home directive issued on Mond......

Pip The Beach Cat Launches Online Morning Show

Posted by: The Dispatch
BERLIN – A local feline is using his social media presence to entertain and uplift members of the community.Last, Pip the Beach Cat – a local feline that’s amassed thousands of soci......